Drawers

ABSTRACT

A drawer construction in which at least the sides and back are formed from identical hollow extruded plastics panels each provided with a longitudinal recess in the face thereof which will be innermost in use in order to accommodate a drawer bottom, and the panels being interconnected at right angles to one another by corner pieces engaged in the open ends of the panels. The corner pieces are arranged such that the portions thereof which remain exposed following connection of the panels are of slightly different lengths when viewed in plan such that the panels overlap one another. Detent means are preferably provided to retain the corner pieces securely in engagement with the open ends of the panels.

[ 1 Aug. 26, 1975 1 DRAWERS Leon G. Litchfield, Youlgreave, England [75] Inventor:

I73] Assignee: L.B. (Plastics) Limited, Youlgreave,

England [22] Filed: May 29, 1973 [211 Appl. No.: 364,710

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Dec. 8, 1972 United Kingdom 56752/72 511 Int. Cl. A47B 47/00 53 Field 01 Search 312/140, 330, 107, 257 R, 312/263, 111; 52/656, 657, 753 1), 758 H;

3,321,223 5/1967 Snow et a], 52/656 3,393,031 7/1968 Morrill 312/330 X 3,393,949 7/1968 Madey 1 1 312/140 3,429,602 2/1969 Dirilgcn .1 403/295 3,556,626 1/1971 Schock 312/330 3,645,569 2/1972 Reilly 1 403/295 3,687,512 8/1972 Alston 312/330 Primary Exami'nerlames T. McCall Attorney, Agent, or FirmMarshall & Yeasting [57] ABSTRACT A drawer construction in which at least the sides and back are formed from identical hollow extruded plastics panels each provided with a longitudinal recess in the face thereof which will be innermost in use in order to accommodate a drawer bottom, and the panels being interconnected at right angles to one another by corner pieces engaged in the open ends of the panels. The comer pieces are arranged such that the portions thereof which remain exposed following connection of the panels are of slightly different lengths when viewed in plan such that the panels overlap one another. Detent means are preferably provided to retain the corner pieces securely in engagement with the open ends of the panels.

8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures DRAWERS The invention relates to drawer constructions.

It is an object of the invention to provide means whereby a drawer may be relatively cheaply produced and readily assembled either by the manufacturer or purchaser without the need for special tools.

The invention provides a drawer construction in which at least the sides and back are formed from identical hollow extruded plastics panels each provided with a longitudinal recess in the face thereof which will be innermost in use in order to accommodate a drawer bottom, and the panels being interconnected at right angles to one another by corner pieces engaged in the open ends of the panels.

Preferably the faces of the panels opposite to those in which said longitudinal recesses are formed are each provided with a longitudinal groove or channel adapted to locate on runners forming part of a cabinet or the like in which the drawer is supported in use.

Preferably also, means is provided to retain the corner pieces securely in engagement with the open ends of the panels. For this purpose each panel may be provided with apertures in one face thereof adjacent its opposite ends, the portions of the corner pieces which cate in the open ends being provided with projecting detent members carried on flexible parts of the corner pieces so as to be depressed when the corner pieces are inserted and to spring out into engagement with the apertures when the corner pieces are pushed fully home. Alternatively those portions of the corner pieces which locate within the panels may be secured by adhesive or solvent welding.

Preferably also, the corner pieces are arranged such that the portions thereof which remain exposed following connection of the panels are of slightly different lengths when viewed in plan such that the panels overlap one another. This presents a neat appearance to the interior of the assembled drawer and eliminates unsightly gaps through which the interior of the comer pieces could be seen.

The side and back only of the drawer may be formed from identical extruded panels of the kind referred to, the drawer front constituting a separate panel. In this case the front panel is preferably connected to the drawer sides by connecting members secured to the front panel and adapted to engage within the hollow side panels. These connecting devices may be provided with retaining means or secured by adhesive or solvent welding as described in relation to the corner pieces mentioned above.

Alternatively all four sides of the drawer may be constructed from identical extruded plastic panels, being connected together by means of four corner pieces of the kind referred to above. In this instance a separate handle may be attached to the panel which constitutes the drawer front. Such handle may comprise an extruded strip member engaged with the longitudinal channel in the drawer front where the panels contain such channels.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is an exploded view of a drawer assembly according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view showing a connecting piece used between identical drawer panels;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective showing a connecting piece for attaching the drawer front to the assembly; and

FIGS. 4 and 5 are views similar to FIGS. 2 and 3 showing modified connecting pieces.

Referring to the drawings, the drawer assembly comprises a floor 5, opposed side walls 6 and 7, a back wall 8 and a front panel 9. The side walls 6 and 7 and the back wall 8 are constructed from identical extruded sections of synthetic plastics material. Each such wall or panel incorporates a longitudinal recess 10 near to the lower edge of the face of the panel which is innermost in use, these recesses 10 serving to receive the edges of the floor 5. The panels consist of upper and lower hollow portions of rectangular section interconnected by a longitudinal web 1 l which defines an opening or channel 12. The channels 12 in the two side walls 6 and 7 are adapted, in use, to locate over runners in a cabinet or other article of fumiture in which the drawer is mounted so as to permit sliding movement of the drawer between open and closed positions.

The side panels 6 and 7 and back panel 8 are interconnected by comer pieces one of which is shown in greater detail in FIG. 2. Each comer piece consists of a post 13 having locating members 14 projecting from two adjacent sides thereof at right angles and dimensioned so as to form a relatively tight fit in one of the upper or lower hollow portions of a side or back wall panel. Two such comer pieces are utilised at each corner and when engaged in the adjacent panels they connect these together at right angles to one another. In order to prevent accidental separation of the parts, the corner pieces are provided with projecting detent members 15 mounted centrally of the locating members 14 which are slotted at 16 to increase the resilience of the central region. Each detent member 15 is chamfered in order that the corner piece may be readily pushed into the open end of the associated panel, the detent member 15 springing outwards into locking engagement with the associated opening 17 when the corner piece has been pushed fully home.

The post 13 of each corner piece is of rectangular rather than square section in plan view, the distance a (FIG. 3) slightly exceeding the distance b. As a result adjacent edges of the back and side panels overlap one another slightly, thereby forming a more satisfactory join and eliminating cracks or slots through which the interior of the comer pieces might otherwise be visible from within the drawer. By suitable marking of the 10- cating members 14 of the corner pieces correct assembly of the components may be ensured.

The front panel 9 is of different construction from the sides and back, comprising a generally flat panel not of hollow construction but provided with a longitudinal groove 18 for reception of the forward edge of the drawer floor. The front panel is connected to the remainder of the assembly by connecting pieces 19 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. Each connecting piece consists of a strip-like base 20 provided with apertures 21 by means of which it may be attached to the rear face of the drawer front using screws or the like. Locating members 22 project from the member 20 at right angles thereto and are dimensioned for engagement in the upper and lower hollow portions of the side walls 6 and 7. Detent members 23 similar to those provided on the corner pieces are provided on the outer faces of each member 22 and these engage with apertures 24 in the respective side walls to secure the parts against acci dental separation.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate modified connecting pieces for use with panels of increased depth which have internal dividing walls 25 in each of the upper and lower hollow sections. The construction and function of the connecting pieces of FIGS. 4 and 5 is otherwise similar to those described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

Thus in manufacture of the drawer, the sides and back may be cut to suitable lengths from a single extruded section, the holes 17 and 24 being punched subsequently adjacent the respective ends and the parts then being assembled around the floor 5 by means of the corner pieces. The front panel fitted with its connecting pieces may then be engaged with the leading ends of the side walls and the front edge of the floor to complete assembly of the drawer. Apart from the attachment means necessary to secure the connecting pieces 19 to the back wall of the front panel, no other separate connecting members are required in assembling the drawer. The facility for providing both sides and the back from a single extrusion also considerably simplifies production and reduces cost.

In a modification the front panel may consist of an extruded section identical to the sides and back, the front panel in this case being connected to the rest of the assembly using corner pieces identical to those used to connect the sides to the back. A separate handle may then be attached to the front face of the front panel and as this face will include a recess 12 the handle may consist of an extruded component clipped into the recess and projecting outwardly and downwardly from the upper edge of the recess to form a drawer pull.

in a further modification the detent members provided on the corner pieces and connecting pieces and the associated apertures in the drawer panels may be eliminated and the parts connected using adhesive or solvent welding. Attainment of an effective bond may be improved by providing fluting on the faces of the locating members previously occupied by the detents. By virtue of this arrangement drawers of various different sizes may be constructed from standard lengths of extruded wall-forming section, particularly where the front wall consists of the same extrusion.

Various other modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example, alternative forms of comer piece or connecting piece could be utilised provided they engaged within the hollow side and end panels, and such panels may be of various crosssectional configurations and have various arrangements of internal reinforcement if required.

I claim:

1. A drawer construction in which at least the sides and back are formed from identical hollow extruded plastics panels each provided with a longitudinal recess in the face thereof which will be innermost in use in order to accommodate a drawer bottom, and each having its ends open, wherein the improvement comprises two rear corner pieces each comprising a. an upright portion consisting of an angle forming a corner of the drawer, against the edges of which the outer vertical edges of the back penel and a side panel abut, said angle forming two sides of a vertical chamber which is bounded on the other two sides by said panels,

b. one side flange of said angle being narrower than the other to cause the inner vertical edge of one of said panels to overlap the inner vertical edge of the other panel, thus preventing a gap from occurring between the inner vertical edges of said panels, said angle having rectangular top and bottom pieces to close the top and bottom of said vertical chamber and having locating portions which are engaged in the open ends of said panels.

2. A drawer construction according to claim 1 wherein the faces of the panels opposite to those in which said longitudinal recesses are formed are each provided with a longitudinal groove or channel adapted to locate on runners forming part of a cabinet or the like in which the drawer is supported in use.

3. A drawer construction according to claim 1 wherein means is provided to retain the corner pieces securely in engagement with the open ends of the panels.

4. A drawer construction according to claim 3 wherein each panel is provided with apertures in one face thereof adjacent its opposite ends, the portions of the corner pieces which locate in the open ends being provided with projecting detent members carried on flexible parts of the comer pieces so as to be depressed when the corner pieces are inserted and to spring out into engagement with the apertures when the corner pieces are pushed fully home.

5. A drawer construction according to claim 3 wherein those portions of the corner pieces which locate within the panels are secured in place by adhesive or solvent welding.

6. A drawer construction according to claim 1 wherein the sides and back only of the drawer are formed from identical extruded panels.

7. A drawer construction according to claim 6 wherein the front panel is connected to the drawer sides by connecting members secured to the front panel and adapted to engage within the hollow side panels.

8. A drawer construction according to claim 1 wherein the locating portions of each corner piece are inset from the side flanges, top and bottom of the corner piece such that when the panels are interconnected their outer sides, top edges and bottom edges will be flush with the surfaces of the corner piece.

1 F i k 

1. A drawer construction in which at least the sides and back are formed from identical hollow extruded plastics panels each provided with a longitudinal recess in the face thereof which will be innermost in use in order to accommodate a drawer bottom, and each having its ends open, wherein the improvement comprises two rear corner pieces each comprising a. an upright portion consisting of an angle forming a corner of the drawer, against the edges of which the outer vertical edges of the back penel and a side panel abut, said angle forming two sides of a vertical chamber which is bounded on the other two sides by said panels, b. one side flange of said angle being narrower than the other to cause the inner vertical edge of one of said panels to overlap the inner vertical edge of the other panel, thus preventing a gap from occurring between the inner vertical edges of said panels, said angle having rectangular top and bottom pieces to close the top and bottom of said vertical chamber and having locating portions which are engaged in the open ends of said panels.
 2. A drawer construction according to claim 1 wherein the faces of the panels opposite to those in which said longitudinal recesses are formed are each provided with a longitudinal groove or channel adapted to locate on runners forming part of a cabinet or the like in which the drawer is supported in use.
 3. A drawer construction according to claim 1 wherein means is provided to retain the corner pieces securely in engagement with the open ends of the panels.
 4. A drawer construction according to claim 3 wherein each panel is provided with apertures in one face thereof adjacent its opposite ends, the portions of the corner pieces which locate in the open ends being provided with projecting detent members carried on flexible parts of the corner pieces so as to be depressed when the corner pieces are inserted and to spring out into engagement with the apertures when the corner pieces are pushed fully home.
 5. A drawer construction according to claim 3 wherein those portions of the corner pieces which locate within the panels are secured in place by adhesive or solvent welding.
 6. A drawer construction according to claim 1 wherein the sides and back only of the drawer are formed from identical extruded panels.
 7. A drawer construction according to claim 6 wherein the front panel is connected to the drawer sides by connecting members secured to the front panel and adapted to engage within the hollow side panels.
 8. A drawer construction according to claim 1 wherein the locating portions of each corner piece are inset from the side flanges, top and bottom of the corner piece such that when the panels are interconnected their outer sides, top edges and bottom edges will be flush with the surfaces of the corner piece. 